Software product and SaaS developers
Security built into the product is a competitive advantage: finding flaws early is cheaper, and customers increasingly ask for proof.
/ SOURCE CODE REVIEW
Source Code Review
Fixing vulnerabilities is cheapest during development. Qyntar's secure code review combines automated and manual analysis to find the flaws hidden in your code, and gives developers concrete fix guidance, before you go live.
[ 01 ] / WHAT IT IS
What is secure code review, and why is it more than an automatic code scanner?
In short
Secure code review is the systematic examination of software source code for vulnerabilities, flawed logic and insecure patterns. It combines automated tooling (SAST, dependency scanning, secret detection) with expert manual review, and finds issues before the software reaches production.
Flaws hidden in code, such as injection vulnerabilities, broken authentication and authorization, insecure cryptography, exposed secrets and faulty error handling, are not always visible when you test the running system. Code review examines the application from the inside, so it finds flaws that an outside test cannot reach.
Automated tools (SAST, SCA) scan the whole codebase quickly, but they raise many false alarms and do not understand business logic. Manual, expert review, by contrast, understands the critical parts in depth: authentication, authorization, payment, data handling, cryptography. It finds what tools cannot, such as bypassable business rules or faulty authorization checks.
The review also covers third-party dependencies and the supply chain: known vulnerabilities, licenses, the build process and exposed secrets. The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) also expects manufacturers of products with digital elements to follow secure development and handle vulnerabilities. The service pairs well with a penetration test.
Methodologies and standards
- OWASP ASVS
- OWASP Top 10
- OWASP SAMM
- CWE Top 25
- NIST SSDF (SP 800-218)
- EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
[ 02 ] / WHO IT'S FOR
Who benefits from source code review?
Anyone building or using software that handles sensitive data, supports a financial process or is reachable from the internet.
Organizations commissioning custom systems
If an outside developer built the system, a review of the code is independent evidence that the delivered solution is secure.
Financial, healthcare and critical sectors
DORA, NIS2, PCI DSS and sector regulations all expect secure development practices and checks.
Manufacturers affected by the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
Makers of products with digital elements must be able to demonstrate secure design and vulnerability handling.
Teams that need deeper analysis after a penetration test
If a test has found flaws, reading the code reveals the root cause and other instances of the same bug.
Development teams building security into their process
The review and the accompanying workshop help your team spot common mistakes early on their own.
[ 03 ] / WHAT'S INCLUDED
What our source code review covers
We tailor scope to the size of your codebase, your technologies and your risks. The following elements are typical.
01
Architecture and threat model review
Before reading code we understand the system's structure, data flows and trust boundaries, so the review focuses on the real risks.
02
Automated analysis (SAST)
We sweep the whole codebase with static analysis tools for known flaw patterns, and our experts filter and rate the results.
03
Manual review of critical areas
In-depth, expert review of authentication, session management, authorization, payment and data-handling logic, cryptography and input handling.
04
Dependencies and supply chain (SCA)
Finding known vulnerabilities, license risks and outdated components in third-party libraries, with support for producing an SBOM.
05
Secret detection and configuration review
Searching for passwords, keys, tokens and sensitive data left in code, configuration files and version control history.
06
Build and CI/CD pipeline review
The security of building, packaging and deployment: pipeline permissions, signing, artifact handling and Infrastructure as Code templates.
07
Hunting business logic flaws
Finding the issues tools cannot: bypassable approvals, race conditions, privilege escalation and faulty state handling.
08
Fix guidance and developer workshop
A concrete fix pattern for each finding, and a joint session with developers so similar flaws do not reappear.
[ 04 ] / HOW IT WORKS
How a source code review runs
We work closely with your development team and fit in with your existing development rhythm.
Preparation and scope
We settle the repositories, technologies, critical modules and access method (source access, build, test environment).
Understanding the architecture
From documentation and conversations, we learn the data flows, trust boundaries and key risks.
Automated analysis
We run SAST, SCA and secret detection, then filter and rate the results with expert judgment.
Manual review
We review critical modules in depth by hand, hunting for business logic and authorization flaws.
Report and fix guidance
Code-level findings with file and line references, severity, exploitability and a fix pattern.
Workshop and recheck
A walkthrough with your developers, a recheck after fixes and, if you wish, automated gates built into your pipeline.
[ 05 ] / WHAT IT SOLVES
What source code review solves
Fixing a flaw during development costs a fraction of fixing it in production or after an incident. Code review finds flaws early, and it also builds your team's skills: with the fix patterns and the workshop, the next code they write has fewer flaws.
It also provides independent evidence of software security to customers, partners, auditors and regulators, and supports building a secure development lifecycle (SSDLC).
- flaws found and fixed early and cheaply
- issues uncovered that an outside test cannot reach
- transparency on dependency and supply chain risk
- independent evidence for customers, auditors and regulators
- a development team with stronger security skills
What you receive
- an executive summary of the code's security state
- a code-level findings list with file and line references
- ratings by severity and exploitability
- fix patterns for developers
- a dependency and secret scanning report
- a developer workshop and recheck
[ 06 ] / WHY QYNTAR
Why have Qyntar review your code?
Because we read code as both an attacker and a developer, which is how we find what tools miss and give advice your team can really apply.
An attacker's eye on the code
Our specialists were penetration testers, so they read code the way an attacker does: looking for what can be exploited.
Engineers and security specialists together
Engineering and security skills sit in one team, so recommendations fit real development practice.
Hands-on credentials
The team holds several qualifications proven on practical tasks, including web application and exploit development (such as OSWE and OSED).
Lasting results
We do not just hand over flaws: through the workshop and automated gates we help security become part of your team's daily practice.
[ 07 ] / FAQ
Frequently asked questions: Source Code Review
What is the difference between code review and a penetration test?
A penetration test looks for flaws from the outside in a running system. Code review looks from the inside, reading the code. The two find different flaws, so combining them is ideal. See penetration testing.
Is an automatic code scanner (SAST) enough?
No. Automatic tools raise many false alarms and do not understand business logic. They are useful for finding known patterns quickly, but finding authentication, authorization and business logic flaws takes expert review.
Which programming languages do you review?
The most common languages and frameworks: Java, .NET (C#), JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, PHP and Go, as well as C/C++, mobile apps and embedded code. For unusual technology we will discuss what is possible.
Do we have to hand over all our source code?
Handing over code is covered by a confidentiality agreement, and we keep access as narrow as possible. If needed we can narrow the scope to critical modules, or do the review in your own environment.
How long does a review take?
It depends on the size of the codebase and the amount of critical code. A focused module review takes a few days, while a comprehensive review of a large system can take several weeks. We give a firm estimate once the scope is set.
Does a review help with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and NIS2?
Yes. Both expect secure development and vulnerability handling, and a review with documented fixes is evidence of that. For more, see NIS2 compliance. This is not legal advice.
Can security checks be integrated into our CI/CD pipeline?
Yes. After the review we help build automated gates (SAST, SCA, secret detection) into your pipeline, so flaws surface at commit time and security stays continuous.
[ 08 ] / RELATED SERVICES
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[ + ] / CONTACT
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